Automatic white-black tire painting machine



March 29, 1960 K. L. JAcoBsEN ETAL 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24,- 195e 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 29, 1960 K. L. J-AcoBsx-:N ETAL 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24. 1958 KENNETH L. JAGO'BSEN AUDREY D. JOHNSON GERALD P. COVELL ERNEST E. KWIERANT BY KURT W. JOHN Wfl/;

ATTORNEY.

March 29, 1960 K. l.. JAcoBsEN ETAL 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

KENNETH L. JACOBSEN. AUDREY D. JOHNSON GERALD P. COVELL ERNEST E. KWIERANT BY KURT w. JOHN w ATTORNEY.

March 29, 1960 K. L. JAcoBsEN ETAL 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 LS-I INVENTOR. NNETH L. JAcoasEN AUDREY o. JoHNsQN GERALD P. covELL ERNEST-E. KwxERANT BY KURT w. JQRN A TORNEY March 29, 1960 K. l.. JAcoBsEN :TAL 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 195s 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 KENNETH L. JAGOBSEN AUDREY D. JOHNSON GERALD P. COVELL ERNEST E. KWIERNT KURT W. JOHN wz/ ATTORNEY.

March 29, 1960 K. l.. JAcoBsEN ETAL 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1958 Y l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. ll-IIIIIIIH sssmaaza GERALD l5. covELl.

ERNEST E. KwlERANT By KURT w. Jol-IN ATTORNEY.

March 29, 1960 K. L. JAcoBsEN ErAL 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC Wl-lITl-BLACKl TIRE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1953 1o sheets-sheet v KENNETH L. JAGOBSEN AUDREY D. JOHNSON GERALD P. COVELL ERNEST E. KWIERANT By KURT VL'JOHN ATTORNEY.

INVFNTOR March 29, 1960 K. JAcoBsEN Erm. 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Il i T "9 '2$92f:\9192 INVENIUR. g KENNETH L. JAcoBsEN AUDREY D. JoHNsoN GERALD P. covELl. ERNEST E. KwlERANT By KuR-r w. JOHN ATTORNEY.

Maldl 29, 1960 K. L. JAcoBsEN ET AL 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 24, 1958 RI-Tb ATTORNEY.

March 29, 1960 K. l.. JAcoBsEN ETAL- 2,930,345

AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE Y Filed Jan. 24, 1958 l0 Sheets-Sheet 1,0

INVEmvR. KENNETH :..JAcoBsEN AUDREY :n.JoHNsoN GENAU.;l f c ELL ERNEEr E. K-mERANT BY KURT w. `:oHN

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent AUTOMATIC WHITE-BLACK TIRE PAINTING MACHINE Kenneth L. Jacobsen, Whittier, Calif., Audrey D. Johnson, Denver, Colo., and Gerald P. Covell, Dearborn, Ernest E. Kwierant, Van Dyke, and Kurt W. John, Detroit, Mich., assignors to United States Rubber Company, New York, N .Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 24, 1958, Serial No. 710,884

Z Claims. (Cl. 118-2) This invention comprises an automatic machine forl painting toroidal bodies and more specically for painting automobile tires.

The general object of the invention is to provide a continuously operating system having a point of entry and a point of discharge wherein toroidal bodies such as automobile tires can be painted over the entire exterior surface with a single coating, preferably pigmented, or in the case of white sidewall tires, with two different coatings in mutually exclusive areas. f

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination which functionally may be divided into three subcombinations, all of which coact to coat, in continuous operation, toroidal bodies such as automobile tires.

yIn accordance with the embodiment selected for illustration herein, the overall combination consists first of a mechanism for advancing the tires along a defined path intermittently in predetermined spaced sequence. The mechanism consists secondly of a coating mechanism, specifically a spraying machine, to which they are fed from said lirst mechanism. In the spraying mechanism they are individually and successively sprayed all over with a single coating of one color, or one color and a protective coating, thereby especially adapting the spraying mechanism for the processing of white wall tires. Finally, the combination includes an unloading mechanisrn which successively removes the painted tires from the coating mechanism and delivers them `to a receiving fs ICC Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VII-VII of Figure 1 showing the loading device with some parts in elevation;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the loading device;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IX-IX of Figure 1, showing the unloading device with some parts in elevation; v

Figure 10 is an elevational view taken on the line X-X of Figure l, showing the loading device;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line Xl-Xl of Figure 9, illustrating particularly a stop mechanism for the machine actuated when the unloader fails to remove a tire from the paint machine;

Figure l2 is a time chart of a cam switch timer coordinating the overall operation of the complete machinev combination;

Figures 13 and 14 taken together comprise a diagram`-A and their relationship of which it is composed. Subsepoint for drying. The complete combination includes a substantially fully automatic control system for insuring the coordinated operation of the subassemblies to proyduce the unified result indicated above and to insure .against improper operation of the combination.

There are many detailed objects of the invention which are illustrated inthe embodiment selected for illustration herein, the nature and purpose of which will best be understood from the following detailed description of that embodiment.

The embodiment selected for illustration is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 lis a diagrammatic plan view of the complete combination of this invention, showing diagrammatically lthe various switch devices by means of which automatic operation is obtained;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line :II- II of Figure 1, showing some parts in elevation of the .painting sub-assembly;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line III- Iill of Figure 2 with some parts shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is a plan View of the gating mechanism which delivers the tires successively in predetermined spaced relation to -the device for loading them onto the painting sub-assembly;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line V Vof Figure 4; 1

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VI-VI :of Figure 3, illustrating the indexing gear of the turntable of the painting sub-assembly;

quent to this description there will be provided a detailed analysis of the operation of the machine, with reference to Figures 12 to 14 inclusive.

At the entry end of the machine is a tire receivingand gating mechanism 11, by means ofwhich the tires 10 are delivered one at a time in spaced relation to a loading device 12, which places the tires onto the painting assem-v bly 14, l5. After the tires are painted they are removed from the painting assembly by means of an unloader'13,l which delivers them to a conveyor form-ing part thereof, which in turn delivers them to a drying point. The painting mechanism includes a spray painting booth 14 and associated therewith is a main cam timer switch 17 controlling the overall operation of the machine.

In Fig. l there is also illustrated.diagrammatically theI positions of the switching devices for controlling the individual operations of the machine, which devices are i1- lustrated at LS-lY to LS-ll inclusive. Further and more detailed reference will be made thereto in analyzing the various sub-assemblies illustrated in subsequent figures.

The painting assembly illustrated in full detail in Figs. l, 2 and 3, will be described first. It consists of a framework 18 of suitable conguration including a base and uprights havingY a centrally located sub-frame 19. Mounted on this sub-frame, as bestV seen in Fig. 3, is the main drive motor 20 for the paint machine. Journaled'V in the sub-framev 19 is a shaft 21 which is rotatable in bearing assemblies 21a and 21b on a vertical axis. Securedw to the upper end of the shaft 21 is a plate 23, preferably in the' form of a'disc, having a ring 22 seated thereon, on which are supported a pair of cross beams 24 lying at right angles to each other. .Thesecross beams are bolted to the plate 23 `and ring 22 to forma'unitary turntable. ,Y

v Secured on top of therbeams 24 is a circular disc, 25 which completes 'the turntable. Secured centrally of the turntable and extending vertically isa centralI base frame 18 in a fixed position. The plane of the top wall 28 is such as to permit the radiall walls 27 to pass just underneath it. The bottom wall 29 is positioned to be in the plane of the circularV table 25. The result is that in an indexed position adjacent pairs of the` radial walls 27 successively close the sides of the spray booth 14 to form a substantially tight enclosure. e

special Rotation is imparted to the shaft 21 by the motor 20 through a speed reduction gear assembly 33 whose input pulley 35 is connected by a belt to a pulley on the shaft of motor 20. The motor 20, as shown in Fig. 3, is mountedon an adjustable base 20a to control belt tightness. Mounted on the output shaft 33a of the reduction gear assembly 33, is a disc 32 on the upper surface of which are mounted three roller pins 43, 44 and 45 (see Fig. 6). The pins 44, and 45 are diametrically related and the pin 43, which is longer than the other two, is positioned circumferentially midway between them. Secured to the shaft 21 is a starwheel 31, which is provided with four radial slots 46 (see Fig. 6) equidistantly spaced circumferentially and arranged for cooperation with the pins 43, 44 and 45.

Also attached to the upper face of the disc 32 is a circular wall 40 concentric with the disc and extending` through 270 thereby forming a 90 gap in the cen- ;er og which is positioned theV longer roller pin 43, see

At this point it will be noted that the assembly comprising the disc 32 and starwheel 31, as illustrated in Fig. 6, comprises the usual Geneva drive by means of which, through the continuously rotating output shaft 33a of the gear reduction assembly 33, the main drive shaft 21 for the paint machine turntable is given intermittent step-by-step movement in steps of 90 rotation. The arms of the starwheel 31, formed by the slots 46, are each provided on their periphery with a smooth circular surface 41 having a radius equal to the radius of the outer face of the curved wall 40. The inner face 42 of each flange between the ends of the starwheel arms is concentric with the corresponding curved surface 41 as shown in Fig. 6. As is well understood in the mechanical arts, as the disc 32 revolves, the long pin 43 on each rotation will rotate the starwheel 31 through 90 by entering the properly positioned slot 46, and driving the starwheel. This can occur because the long pin 43 is opposite the gap in the curved wall 40.

As shown in Fig. 6, pin 43 is making initial contact with one of the slots 46 for a 90 degree rotation of the starwheel. When the starwheel has rotated through 90 the operative slot 46 and pin 43 will be in the position now occupied by pin 44 in Fig. 6. As the pin 43 moves out of the operative slot the trailing shorter pin 45 engages the back curved surface 42 of the starwheel while the outer curved surface 41 engages the curved Wall 4G. Thus the pins 44 and 45 and wall 40 serve to hold the starwheel 31 in indexed position.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the output shaft 33a of the reduction gear assembly 33 is provided with a pulley 36 which is connected by a belt 37 to a jack shaft 38 journaled on bearings mounted on the sub-frame 19. Another pulley on the jack shaft is in turn connected by a belt 39 to a pulley in the timer 17 for causing rotation of its cams. The pulley diameters of the drive for the timer are selected so that the speed of rotation of the cams is one-fourth that of the speed of rotation of the output shaft 338 of the reduction gear assembly 33. Thus the rotation of the cams of the timer is synchronized with the rotation of the turntable of the paint machine.

Mounted at the ends of each of the cross beams 24 of the turntable are the bearing assemblies 47, and as shown in Fig. 2, there is journaled in each a vertical shaft 48 on which bolted anged discs 49 provide an assembly for locking a pneumatic drive wheel 50 thereon. The upper end of each shaft 48 projects above the table 25 and has mounted thereon a circular frame or spider 52 on which is supported a ange ring 54 and a cylindrical thimble 53 having a closed upper end. The closed` end of this thimble is tapered to form a truncated conical arrangement which facilitates the dropping of the tires thereonto in properly centered relation. The upper end of shaft 48 is provided with an enlarged section 51 against the end of which the thmble 53 is bolted, as shown.

Mounted on an adjustable framework 55 extending transversely of the sub-frame 19 at one side, is a platform 55a on top of which a speed reduction gear assembly 58 is mounted. A pulley on the input shaft of this unit is connected by a belt 57 to a pulley on the shaft of a motor 56 mounted on the bottom of the transverse frame 55. As is clear from Fig. 2, the spacing of the unit 58 and motor 56 can be adjusted by the support 55 to tighten the belt 57 as desired. The output shaft of the unit 58 is provided with` a friction drive roller 59 positioned so that as each tire supporting assembly is indexed into spray painting position the friction drive roller 59 engages the pneumatic wheel 50, causing rotation of the tire supporting unit. Thus, each time the turn table 24-25 is indexed one step, the tire supporting assembly which is then in the spraybooth 14, is rotated.

To complete this part of the description, in referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that projecting into the booth 14 are a set of spray heads 60 positioned to spray a coating onto the outer surface of the tire as it revolves, with the exception of the portion that lies between the upstanding liange of the ring 54 and a circular ring 53Et supported on the periphery of the thimble 53. Within the compartment thus formed is another spray head 61 by which a protective coating can be sprayed, in those cases where white wall tires, for example, are being coated.

With the tire 1l) revolving, it will be seen that a band of coating will be applied around the central opening of the tire on one side, which is the normal position of the white band on a white wall tire. lf the tire is not a white wall tire, so that the same coating can be applied all over its outer surface, another spray (not shown) positioned in back of the spray 61 is provided which will be supplied with the same coating material as is supplied to the sprays 60.

At this point it may be noted that some reference has been made to coatings, spray painting and the like. It will be understood that, as is apparent to those skilled in the art, whether a clear or pigmented coating is passed through the spray is unimportant to the operation of the machine. In the case of a white wall tire, the coating will naturally be a clear protective coating for the white portion of the tire, while the remaining black portion may be coated with a pigmented (black) liquid, as is practiced in the art.

In resume thenit will be seen that, with the main motor Z6 operating, the turntable will rotate in 90 steps successively bringing the tire supporting units into the spray booth 14, the sides of which are closed by the pair of radial walls 27 positioned on opposite sides of that unit. As will be explained later, when this position is reached and the turntable is stopped, the nozzles will be activated to spray the coating on the tire which is being rotated on its center by the motor 56, as previously explained. The booth 14 is provided with a discharge vent 62 which can be connected to waste or toa cyclone separator to recover unused coating and carriers or solvents for reuse.

r)The gating device is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It includes a frame 63 on which are mounted a series of spaced parallel rollers 64 along which a tire can move by gravity because this frame is tilted, as shown in Fig. 5. Mounted under this frame is a sub-frame 65, on which at the high end is mounted a pressure uid cylinder 66. The projecting end of its piston rod is provided with a clevis 67 pivotally connected to a longitudinally extending bar 68 which is slidably mounted in a pair of bearings69. Mounted on top of the bar 68 intermediate its ends and in spaced relation are the cross arms 70 and 7l. Pivotally supported eachat one end on the sub-frame 65 at 72, are a pair of levers 73 having supported on their opposite ends upstanding rotatable rollers 74.

Intermediate their ends the levers 73V are connected by pivoted links 75 to the cross arm 70. Similarly, a pair of levers 77 are each pivotally connected, each at one end at 76 to the sub-frame 65 and are each provided at the other end with upstanding rotatable rollers 78. The levers 77 are pivotally interconnected intermediate their ends by means of links 79 to the cross arm 71. Journaled at one side of the frame 63 on a vertical shaft is an arm 80 which extends over the ends of the adjacent rollers 64, see Fig. 4. Also secured to this shaft is a cam 81 controlled by a tension spring 82, which cam operates a switch LS-1 in the manner and for the purpose to be later explained. As appears in Fig. 4 at A and B, the adjacent rollers 64 have a greater spacing to provide room in which the upstanding rollers 74 and 78 may move as the supporting levers pivot.

Generally speaking, this gating device is provided to cause the tires introduced at the lefthand end of the conveyor to be spaced, as they are discharged from its righthand end, in predetermined spaced relation. There is a sub operation which occurs in the event that no tire.

appears` at its proper position at the proper time, as will 'be explained later.

T he gating device 11 delivers the tires with proper timing to a loader 12, see Figs. 7 and 8, for receiving them and loading them onto the turntable previously described. The loading device includes a suitable supporting framework including uprights 83 and connected stringers 84. Mounted on this framework are a pair of spaced parallel rollers 85, between which an arm in the form of a narrow framework 86 may lie. Mounted on the arm 86 is a pressure uid motor 91 whose piston rod 90 has a clevis at the end which is pivotally connected to a bell crank lever 87 journaled on the arm 86. A second bell crank lever 88 is also journaled on this arm and the two bell crank levers are pivotally connected at opposite ends by means of an adjustable link 89. The spacing of the levers 87 and 88 is such that when they are rocked to vertical position, as shown in Fig. 7, they will clamp one of the beads of the tire 10. Also connected to the piston rod 90 is a slide bar 92 provided with adjustable buttons, in a well known manner, to alternatively operate a pair of control switches LS-S and LVS-6 for a purpose to be described later.

The arm 86 is secured to a pair of plates 97 and 98 which are connected to a shaft 93 by the respective pins 99 so that the arm 86 is caused to rotate with the shaft. This shaft is journaled in a pair of bearings 94 and 95, supported on a side frame 96 attached to the side of the frame of the loader, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. Mounted on this side frame and connected to the shaft 93 is a rotary pressure Huid motor 103. On the opposite end of shaft 93 is a cam 100 for actuating the control switches LS-Z and LS-4, and a cam 100a for actuating control switch LS-11, for a purpose to be described later.

In Figs. l, 7 and 8 a photocell relay control switch 16, the function of which will be later described, is diagrammatically illustrated. Generally speaking, the photocell assembly detects whether or not the tire being loaded is or is not a white wall tire, in order to modify the action of the spraying mechanism as conditions require. Also generally speaking, at this point reference is made to the fact that roller 102, see Fig. 8, is provided with a tire .actuated cam plate 101 for controlling the switch LS-3 to in turn control energization of the pressure fluid cylinder 91 to actuate the clamp arms 87 and 88 to grip the tire as it moves into proper position. A'carn 1021, see Fig.` 7, on the end of the shaft of roller 102 controlled by the spring 102a actuates this switch.

The unloader 13 for removing the tire from the turntable and delivering it to a discharge conveyor will now be described. This unloader is shown in Figs. 9, 10 and l1. It includes a supporting frame 112 on which is mounted a shaft 106. Secured to and extending upwardly from the shaft 106 are a pair of brackets l105 on which are pivotally mounted, intermediate their ends, a pair of tire clamping levers 104.` Positioned adjacent one of these levers is a control switch LS-7, the function of which will be described later. The lower ends of theselevers 104 are pivotally interconnected by links 111 to a 'double arm fixture on the end of a rotary fluid pressure motor depending from the shaft 106. The shaft 106 is journaled in bearing assemblies 107 secured at spaced points on the frame 112 and is connected at one end to a rotary pressure uid motor 10S-which is secured to a plate 113 mounted on the side ofthe frame 112. Mounted on the other end of the shaft 106 is a cam 109.

Referring now to Fig. 9, it will` be seen that the cam 109 lis arranged to alternatively control switches LS9 and LS-S for a purpose to be later described.

Mounted on the side of the frame 112 in bearings A115 is a shaft 114 which has a lever 118 on its upper end. As seen in Fig. 11, this lever is controlled by a tension spring attached to a lever 116. Secured on the other end of the shaft 114 is a cam 117 arranged to control a switch LS-10, lwhich as will be described later, can control the machine to stop it under certain conditions. The lever 118 is positioned, as illustrated in Fig. 9, so that the machine will be stopped when a tire fails to be pickedrup by the unloader. This Vwill be explained` in greater detail later.

Before the operation of the machine is described, several matters, for clarification, will be mentioned. The illustration in Fig. 12 is a time chart of the operation of the cam switch assembly 17, illustrating the time period Vof actuation of each of the switches forming a part thereof for one complete rotation of the turntable of the spray machine 15. As previously indicated, this table completes a rotation in four vsuccessive steps, and the time chart of Fig. l2 has been subdivided to indicate the corresponding movements of the actuating cams of switch 17. The symbols CS-l to CS-19 represent, respectively, the individual switches controlled by the cams of switch assembly 17. The exact form of the cams for the individual switches can be determined from the time chart of Fig.'l2. The rectangles of varying length opposite the different switch numbers indicate the time duration of actuation of the corresponding switches. vEach indicated 90 of rotation, as shown in Fig. l2, is subdivided into two parts marked respectively A and B. The portion A of the movement for each step corresponds to the inde xing movement of the apparatus, as for example the movement of the turntable from one stopped position to the next stopped position. The portion B represents the period during which spraying and other yactions of the tire occur.

It will be understood that Fig. l2 is purely a time chart indicating how long each of the respective switches f CS-l to CS-19 remains actuated. Switches CS-1 and CS-2 are normally closed and are open only during the periods of each quadrant of the time chart represented by the short rectangles opposite these symbols. Switches CS-3 through CS-19 inclusive are normally open switches which are closed during the periods represented by the related rectangles shown in Fig. 12.

The following descriptive table with respect to switches LS-l to LS-11 will be helpful in following the various circuit operations: LS-l-Actuated to close when a tire is in gate. Released to open when there is no tire in gate.

LS-Z-Actuated to close when loader is tilted into OUT position (away from indexing table). Released to open when loader begins to tilt IN (towards indexing table).

LS-3-Actuated to open when loader is tilted into OUT position but only with a tire placed in loader. Released to close when (a) no tire is in loader, or l(b) when loader, with a tire in it, begins to tilt IIN towards indexing table.

LS-S--Actuated to close when gripper completes grip stroke to clamp tire. Released to open when gripper begins release stroke tending to unclamp tire.

LS-6-Actuated to open when gripper completes release stroke and unclamps tire. Released to close when gripper is beginning grip stroke, tending to grip tire.

LS-7-Actuated to open when unloader arms are closed, and hold tire. Released to close when unloader arms begin to open, tending to release tire.

LS---Actuated to close when unloader is tilted IN (over indexing table). Released to open -when unloader begins to tilt OUT (away from indexing table).

LS9Actuated to open when unloader is tilted OUT (away from indexing table). Released to close when unloader begins to tilt IN (towards indexing table).

LS-10-Actuated to open when unloader fails to remove completed tire. Remove completed tire and reset limit switch.

LS-ll-Actuated when loader is tilted OUT (away from indexing table). Released when loader is tilted IN (towards indexing table).

It seems cumbersome and unnecessary to apply reference numerals to every wire in the circuit represented by the combined diagram of Figs. 13 and 14 since the straight line form of illustration clearly indicates the various circuits. It is believed suicient, therefore, to describe the operation of the apparatus, referring where helpful to Figs. 13 and 14. For ease in consideration, it is noted that the circles CR- to CR-19 inclusive diagrammatically illustrate the relays which are controlled by the action of limit switches, control relays and/or cam switches. To further facilitate reading this diagram, it is noted that the various contacts of these cam switches are correspondingly indicated by reference characters CS-l to CS-19, respectively. The switches LS-l to LS-ll are positioned as previously indicated in connection with the description of the apparatus in Figs. l to ll inclusive.

Referring to Fig. 13, it will be seen that the contacts for turntable motor 2h have been given the same desig nation M-3 as the relay M-3 which controls them. Likewise, the contacts for tire revolving motor 56 have been given the reference character M-Z. The contacts for motor VM, have been given the reference character M-1. The motor is the Ventilating motor which drives the fan which draws the paint vapors from the booth 14 through the exhaust connection 62.

The motors VM, S6 and 20 are connected via their associated control relays across the three phase power supply which is also connected to the primary of a transformer IL-1. The secondary of this transformer has its respective terminals connected to the control supply lines L-1 and L-2.

The photoelectric relay 16 for detecting white wall tires as distinguished from all black tires is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13. This device is conventional per se. Connected across lines L-l and L-2 is the primary of transformer' T,2, `the secondary of which energizes a small lamp L. The light from this lamp is focused on the tire 10. while it is on the loader 12 and its beam is interrupted by means of la motor driven chopper CM commonly used in devices of this type. The beam reflected fromme tire impases on the photocell PC and its output is applied to the photoelectric relay indicated diagrammatically at PCC. The current supply leads for PCC are connected to L-1 and L-Z. The photoelectric relay if it detects that the tire is all black, insures that all the black paint sprays will be operative. This is accomplished through the closing of contacts PC-l and the opening of contacts PC-3 (see Fig. 14). If a White wall tire is detected, the spray 61 is activated by opening of contacts PC-l and closing of contacts PCe.

The control of the VM motor is through the relay M1 whose circuit is completed across L-1 and L-Z by closing momentarily the normally open starting switch FS. This circuit includes a normally closed contact M-1, OL which is a contact of an overload relay, not shown, commonly used in all properly protected motor circuits. When relay M-1 is energized, the contacts M-1a and M-1b are closed by it. Contacts M--la complete a holding circuit for the relay M-1, around the starting switch FS. Motor VM can be stopped by momentarily opening normally closed spring biased stop switch FO.

. Since contact M-lb is closed the main motor and the tire revolving motor 56 can be started by momentarily closing switch MS, which is spring biased to open position. This completes the circuit to the main motor relay M-Z. At this time switches LS-lt, VMS, AS, M-3, OL and M-Z, OL normally are closed. Normally closed switches M-3, OL and lvl-2., OL are overload switches for the motors 56 and 20 normally provided in motor circuits. When relay M-Z is thus energized, contacts M-2a and M-Zb are closed.

When contacts M2a have closed, relay M3 is energized because switches CS-l and CS-Z are normally closed. The result is that normally open contacts M-3a are closed in the holding circuit around the start switch MS. Thus, under these conditions, all of the motors VM, 56 and 20 are operating.

The processing of any given tire may be considered as being loaded in the second quadrant, sprayed in the third quadrant and unloaded in the fourth quadrant.

In order to start the description of the operation of the apparatus, it will be assumed that the machine is already operating and the starting point will be taken as that represented by a tire 10 resting on the gating device 11, and thereby closing LS-l, held thereby stop rollers 78. This action will again be referred to below.

If there is no tire in loader 12, LS-3 is open and relay CR-18 is deenergized. Also, contacts Cil-18a are closed which sets up a circuit to the coil of relay CR-13. At this time switch LS-2 is also closed because this switch only opens as the loader 12 begins to tilt IN" to transfer a tire to the turntable, see Fig. 7.

Therefore the circuit to the gate relay CR-13 will be completed, it being assumed, of course, that the hand switch P-4 is closed, as it will be when the machine is operating. Energization of relay CR-IS closes the contacts CR--13a and CR-13b. The closing of normally open contacts C12-13a completes a holding circuit around the switches LS-l and LS-2 for the relay CR-13. The closing of normally open contacts CR-13b energizes the winding of the solenoid valve SV-4 in the pressure fluid supply line (not shown) to the pressure lluid engine 66. see Fig. 4, which causes the bar 68 to move forwardly spreading the rollers 78 apart by the linkage system to release the tire so that it may slide into the loader 12, which is in a position to receive it. When the tire rests in the loader switch LS3 is actuated to close, therebyl energizing relay CR18. The energizing of CR-l causes contacts CR-18a to open thus breaking the cir cuit to CR-13. As a result solenoid valve SV-4 is deenergized, cutting off the Supply of pressure urid to the engine 66. A

The energization of the valve SV-4 will supply air to the engine to move the rod 68 to the right, Fig. 4, and its deenergiaation will exhaust air therefrom to permit .9 its return to the position shown in Fig; 4. As is well known in the lpneumatic art, this can be accomplished either with a differential pressure duid engine or a double acting engine.

Thus, as soon as a tire passes between stop rollers 78 they return to restraining position so that the next tire supplied to the gating device cannot pass until they open again. While the rollers 78 are open, rollers 74 are closed, so that the succeeding tire is held until rollers 78 close again.

At this point it is emphasizedrthat switch LS-Z will be open if the loader 12 is in any position other than that to receive a tire, so that the closing of LS-l cannot release the next tire unless the loader 12 is in position to receive it.. Relay contacts CR-182 in the same circuit, are closed when the loader 12 is in a position to receive a tire and if a tire is actually placed in the loader; otherwise they are open. It will be recalled by referred to Figs. 7-and 8 that unless the tire is in the loader it does not yengage the cam plate 101 so that switch LS-3 is closed.

To avoid an out of sequence operation, which could result in bundling of tires, the machine has been adjusted so that LS-Z releases before LS3 releases. To protect against the effects of coil failure of CR-lS or SV-6 due to power loss, the machine adjustment also provides that LS-3 must be actuated before LS-2 is actuated. Such a failure willinterrupt the loading stroke, causing the loading arm, with a tire in it, to return to the loading position. With the above limit switches adjusted in such a manner, the gate will remain closed thereby preventing a second tire from entering the loader. 1

Relay (JR-18, as shown in Fig. 147 also has contacts CR-lSb in circuit with the relay Clt-14, and if the tire is placed in the loader as previously explained, they Yare closed. At this time switch LS-4 is also closed, so that the relay CR-14 is energized. This is a control interlock relay and its energization closes normally open contacts C11-14a, opens normally closed contacts CR-14b, closes normally open contacts CR-llc, opens normally closed contacts Clt-14d, and closes normally open contacts CR-14. Opening of contacts Clt-14b prevents completion of the circuit for relay CR-13 to insure against the release of a tire at the gate. The closing of CR-lc sets up a holding circuit for the interlock relay C11-14 around the switch CR-18b.

The opening of CR-idd deenergizes SV-S causing the grippers to grip the tire. This action was chosen as a safety feature so that loss of voltage to SV- would not release the tire allowing it to fly out of the gripping members. With the tire gripped, LS-S is actuated thereby energizing relay CR-19. The arrangement of contacts CR--19a in series with contacts Cible permits the black or white tire registration to take place at the instant that CS-11 closes.v This description of color registration appears elsewhere. t

When the tire isgripped, LS-6 is released thereby closing its contacts, and therefore with contacts CR-19lo and CR--14e closed, there exists a preset Vclosing circuit for relay CR-15. Switch CS-16 isalso closed by the related cam in the timer 17. Thus the relay CR-IS is energized, setting upy a holding circuit through contactsCR-lSb. The normally closed contacts (2R-15a in series' with LS 11,v provide a holding circuit around the switch CS'1. CS-'l is normally closed, opening for a short period on each 90 step of timer 17 in order to check that the loader arms'are out of the way before the turntable begins to rotate, see Fig. 12. Normally Vopen contacts C11-15 have closed, energizing the magnet valve SV-6 supplying air tothe engine 103, Fig. 8, causing the arm 86 to be rotated over into a position to deliver theV tire onto the aligned tire support 53. This action releasesV LS-ll. The engine 103 is of the rotatable type, which, however, does not make a complete revolution but is arranged-to lo oscillate'back and lforth as the valve SV-6 is energized and deenergized.V t v Y As soon as the loader arm leaves the OUT position, LS-` is released and relay CR18 deenergized thus closing 'contacts CR-ISa and opening contacts (2R-181. vNote that CR-14 is held in by its own holding circuit contact CR-14.

When the loader arm 86 is all the way over the table, switch LS4, Fig. 7, is actuated to open. This switch again closes when the loader arm begins to move backV towards loadlng position. The opening of switch LS-4 deenergizes relay CR`14. VThis causes the contacts CR- 14d to close, energizing the valve SV-S, actuating the pressure fluid engine 91, see Fig. 7, to release the gripper arms 87 and- 88 so that the tire drops onto the underlying rotatable tire support 53.

The `operation ofthe engine 91 actuates switch LS6 to open, which occurs when the tire is fully released, thereby deenergizing relay CR-IS, closing its contacts CR-,15a. At the same` time contacts CR-ISb and CR-ISc open. The opening of `contacts, CR-llSc deenergizes magnet valve SV-6, energizing the engine 103 in the reverse direction to return the loader arm to the loading position, actuating LS-11, thereby closing its contacts which in series with CR-lSa complete'a holding circuit around CS-1. The machine is now in a position to receive another tire from the gate 11.

Motor 20 continues to run during this period unless LS-ll or CR-15a contacts vremain open at the same time that CS-1'opens. This would indicate that the loader arms have not cleared away from the loading table to permit indexing. Under these conditions motor 20 would stop, while under normal operating conditions it runs continuously. If the machine is functioning properly, the turntable 25 will now rotate 90"y to bring the tire under discussion through this operation into the spray booth 14.

For a description of the spray cycle, we must begin withV the color registry which took place at the instant that CS-ll, C12-14E and CR-19a closed simultaneously. Let us assume that the tire in question is all black and that consequently contacts PC-1 close. Let us further assume that at the same instant we are in the second quadrant of the timerwith CS-7 and CS-S closed. Paint selector relay 4(2R-7V will be energized and through contacts Cil-7a, black paint spray relay CR-8 will also be energized through a normally closed interlock Clt-9, insuring that the white paint spray relay is deenergized.

Relay contacts CR-Sf" establish-a holding circuit through contacts `CS-7. After a short interval, contacts CS-S open thereby deenergizing paint selector vrelay CR-7. At the same time cam switch CS-ll opens.

The tire now proceeds through the loading cycle previously described, which takes place during the part of the second quadrant labeled spraying. This period is followed by the indexing motion of the third quadrant, atthe end of which the tire will arrive in the spray booth. It will be noted that CR-S is held energized by cam switch CS-7. Consequently, contacts CR-Sc in series with C544, and contacts CR-8d in series with CS-lS set up pre-selected spray circuits to black spray valve:SV-1 and to the four black spray valves SV-3. Cam switches CS-I4and CS-18 close during the third quadrant spraying period, while the tire following the one being sprayed will be loaded in the machine after having its .color registration locked on the cam switch CS-Sl.V A separate timer is provided at each spray valve to limit ,the operating period to a shorter time than that indicated by the cams. CS-18 and CS-19 alternate from quadrant to quadrant in order toravoid signal interference caused by back feeding through contacts CR-2d, (2R-3d, CR-Sd,l CR-6d, CR-Sd, rCR-9, CR-lld and CR-12d.

It will beA recalled that the photoelectric cell havingl seen an all black tire has closed the contacts PC-l through theH photoelectric relay PCC. lThe .closing ,of contacta 1I CR7b is ineffective because the contacts PC-3 are open under these conditions, hence the white spray relay CR-9 is not energized.

In a similar manner the circuit for TD3 is completed through manual switch P-3, closed contacts CR-Sd and CS-18. TD-l controls the single black spray (not shown) in back of spray 61 and TD-3 controls the four black sprays 60. At the same time TD-l and TD,3 are energized the paint supply control valves SV-l and SV-S for the five sprays are energized to supply paint to them. At the end of a predetermined time period for which TD-l and T D-S are set the switches TD-ln and TD-3B- open deenergizing the valves SV-l and SV-3 andthe paint supply to the sprays is cut off. When the timer 17 rotates through the third quadrant, i.e. at the end of 270 of rotation CS-14 and CS-18 open, deenergizing TD-1 and TD3.

It will be recalled that each time the turntable 25 comes to a stop the pneumatic drive wheel 50 of one of the tire rotating units will engage the friction drive pulley 59, see Fig. 2, so that the tire will be revolving. Thus, as the paint is sprayed on it its entire surface will be covered.

Let us assume now that the photoelectric relay encounters a tire in the loader which has a white wall. It Will be understood that the white wall tires will have to always be placed in the loader so that the white wall will be exposed to the light from the lamp L. When this occurs contacts PC1 will open and contacts PC-3 will close, with the result that a circuit will be made from the white spray relay CR-9 through normally closed contacts CR-Sb (CR-8 not operating under these circumstances) and closed contacts CR-7b, the paint selector relay CR-7 having been operated as explained before in connection with the second quadrant system.

At the beginning of the fourth quadrant, the tire just sprayed will be indexed to the unloading position and we will now consider the action of the unloader.

The normal position of the unloader is withthe unloader arms 104 tilted OUT, that is away from the indexing table 25, and at this time these arms are open. At the beginning of the fourth quadrant spraying period just referred to, the cam switch 17 is operated to the position where switch CS-17 closes. This completes a circuit to the unloader tilt IN relay CR-16, because the switch LS7 is closed when arms 104 are open. Energization of relay CR16 opens normally closed contacts CR-16a and closes normally open contacts CR16b and C11-16"; Closed contacts CR-16b set up a holding circuit for the relay CR-16 because the switch CR-17 was only momentarily closed by the timer 17. The closing of contacts CR-lc completes a circuit to the magnet valve SV-7 which supplies air under pressure to the rotary engine 108, see Fig. 10, causing the shaft 106 to revolve in a tilting IN direction, until arms 104 have moved down to a position, see Fig. l, where they lie on opposite sides of the tire which preceded the second one being sprayed. A

When arms 104 are tilted all the way IN, switch LS-S closes, completing a circuit to the arms closing relay CR-17. Energizaton of this relay opens'the normally closed contacts CR-179' and closes the normally open contacts Clt-17b and CR17C. The closing of the contacts CR-17b completes a holding circuit for the relay CR-17. The closing of the contacts CR--17c completes a circuit for the magnet'valve SV-S. The operation of this valve supplies air to the rotary engine 110, see Fig. 10, causing the arms 104 to close on Vthe tire and grip it. When these arms are fully'closed, switch LS-7 opens, deenergizing the relay CR-16. This causes the magnet valve SV-7 to deenergize, supplying air to the rotary engine 108 in the opposite direction to cause the shaft 106 to revolve in an OUT direction, carrying with it, of course, the arms 104 and the tire gripped between them. Thus the tire is moved over to the discharge conveyor, see Fig. 1. When the movement in an ,OUT direction has been completed, switch LS9 is actuated to open, deenergizing the relay CR-17. With this deenergization, contacts CR-17c open, deencrgizing the magnet valve SV-S to supply air to the rotary engine in the opposite direction to cause the arms 104 to open and release the tire.

At this point it may be noted that the various contacts CR-ISB, CR-16a and C12-17"l and LS-11 are in a holding circuit for the relay M-3 for the main drive motor 20 so that the momentary opening of CS-l and CS2 serves as a means of inspection to make sure the arms are out of the way. Under this, the normal condition, motor 20 will run continuously. At the end of a given period, CS-l and CS-2 will close, allowing loader and unloader to complete their respective strokes during a quadrant spray period.

It is noted in passing that the switch LS-10 is actuated to open when the unloader fails to remove the tire from the table 25, so that the circuit for the relay M-2 is open as is the circuit for relay M-3 through the contact M-Za. Here again the whole mechanism is stopped due to this failure.

VMS is a rotary type switch located on the fan shaft to insure that the fan is operating to vent the fumes from the spray booth. In the event that the connecting belt between the motor VM and the fan broke, the contacts of VMS would open, thereby breaking the circuit. A similar safety feature AS is located in the air line. This normally open air pressure switch closes when the air pressure reaches a required value for operating the various cylinders. Both VMS and AS function to insure proper operating conditions.

From the above description it will be seen that the operation of this machine is fully automatic, including various safety features to prevent movement of the turntable under all except proper conditions. It is further to be seen that other failures will provent operation of thc machine, as for example the prevention of feeding of a tire to the loader unless it is in condition to receive it and it is empty. Thus, from every viewpoint the machine is fully automatic, including the feature of being able to detect white wall tires and conditions its operation to insure the application of proper coatings to the respective areas of the tires.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many of the details of this invention are capable of wide variation without departure from the true substance thereof. It is preferred, therefore, that the scope of the invention be determined by the claims rather than by the preferred embodiment of the mechanism selected for illustration herein.

VHaving thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a machine for spraying objects which may differ from one another in at least one physical characteristic, the combination comprising a spray booth, means for successively delivering said objects to be sprayer into and out of said booth one at a time, a pluralityof spraying means arranged within said booth and corresponding, re spectively, to the different forms of said physical characteristic, means for sensing said characteristic of each object prior to delivery of the latter into said booth and for actuating the corresponding spraying means, means for successively unloading from said delivering means the objects moved out of said booth by said delivering means, and drive means for rotating said objects while in said booth.

2. In the combination of claim 1, said delivering means comprising a turntable partly underlying said spray booth and having a plurality or rotatable object supports mounted thereon, said drive means being operable to rotatel said supports individually upon arrival of the la`tter in said spray booth. l

3. In the combination of claim 1, said delivering means aesasss lcontrolling the operation of said loading and unloading devices and the operation of said turntable.

comprising an intermittently actuated turntable, a gating device, and means for transferring said objects from said gating device to said turntable.

5. In the combination of claim 1, said delivering means comprising an intermittently actuated turntable, a gating device, and loading means for transferring said objects from said gating device to said turntable, said unloading means being operable to remove said kobjects from said turntable, and means `for conjointly controlling the operation of all of said means whereby the loadingl and unloading means are simultaneously actuated while said turntable is stationary.

6. kIn a spraying machine for white wall and black automobile tires, the combination comprising an intermittently actuated turntable having four rotatable tire supporting stands thereon, a spray booth located adjacent said turntable and adapted to enclose said stands `vindividually as the same are successively moved by and with said turntable, two sets of spray heads arranged within said booth and adapted for spraying said white wall and black tires, respectively, means for successively loading a tire on each of said stands prior to the entry thereof into said booth, means for unloading said tires from said stands, respectively, after they leave said booth, and means associated with said loading means for sensing the color characteristics of each of said tires for selecting the appropriate set of spray heads for actuation.

7. In the combination of claim 6, means for effecting conjoint action of said loading and unloading means while said turntable is at rest.

8. In the combination of claim 6, means for rotating each of said stands only when the same is enclosed in said spray booth.

9. In the combination of claim 6, tire gripping means forming part of said loading means and automatically` actuated to rst grip a tire and then to release the same when positioned by said loading means over one of said turntable stands.

10. In the combination of claim 6, said unloading means comprising a tire gripping device, and means for actuating said device for sequentiallygripping a sprayed tire on a stand leaving said spray booth, removing said tire from said last-named stand, and releasing said tire at an exit point.

11. In the combination of claim 6, a gating device for delivering the tires to said loading means one at a time.

12. In the combination of claim 11, a timing mechanism actuated in synchronism with said turntable for 13. In the combination of claim 6, means for preventing operation of said turntable when said unloading de` vice fails to remove a tire from its stand.

14. In the combination of claim 6, said loading and unloading means each comprising pressure fluid operated 16. In the combination of claim 6,kmeans for rotating,.

said turntable anda timing mechanism actuated in synchronism with said turntable for effecting conjoint operation of said loading and, unloading means only during periods of interruption of said rotation of said, turntable.

v17. In the combination of claim 1, said delivering means comprising a carrier, an oscillatable support, a gating device for feeding and releasing said objects successively to said support, said support being operable to transfer said objects to said carrier, and means actuated by said oscillatable support for preventing operation of said gating device at all times except when said support is in position to receive an object from said gating device.

18. In the combination of claim 1, said delivering means comprising an intermittently operating carrier, an

oscillatable support, means for successively feeding said objects to said support for transfer by the latter to said carrier, and means for Ypreventing operation of said carrier until: said support is clear of said carrier subsequent to transfer of an object thereto.

19. In the combination of lclaim 1, said delivering means comprising a carrier, an oscillatable support, power operated object gripping devices on said support, a gating device for feeding and releasing said objects successively to said support, said support being operable to transfer said objects to said carrier, and means for operating said gripping devices to iirst grip an object fed to said support and then to release the object to said carrier.

20. In the combination of claim 6, said loading and unloading means each comprising power operated object gripping devices, and means for actuating said power operated gripping devices.

` References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,508,369 Johnson sept. 9, 1924 1,861,575, Lathrop .Tune 7, 1932 1,876,967 Krause et al. Sept. 13, 1932 2,390,457 s Pearson et al. a Dec. 4,` 1945 2,434,176 Potthoft Jan. 6, 1948 2,561,012 Clark vJuly 17, 1951 2,678,725

sensing means Jacobson May 18, 1954 

